Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-05
BIsHOP HORATIO POTTER.
sketch Of HIS Long and Notable
Career.

The Right Rev. IIoratiO Potter, ID. d.,
Ii. D., d. G. L., sixth bishop of the Pro-
lcstant Episcopal diocese OF New York,
who died at GO O'Clock Sunday morning,
in the eighty-fiith year Of his age, first
showed signs OF declining health =. in the
spring OF 1888. On Ascension-dat MAY
3d) Of that year he attended confirmation
service in the Church Of the Incarnation,
in that city, and at the time il was notice
able that he was suffering from a severe
cold. ON September 18th following he
wrote q letter announcing his continued
feebleness and asking to be relieved from
! diocesan duties. As a consequence, on
September 9th Of the same year the Rev.
! DR.. Henry e. Potter. nephew OF the vene-
rabe bishop, was elected assistant bishop
OF the diocese.
Bishop Potter was a native OF Beekman,
now Lagrange, Duchess county, n. Y,
where he was born February 0, 1902. His
father, Joseph Potter, was native OF Co.
yentIy. England. and Bishop Henry &.
! Potter was one Of family OF ten children.
| A brother, Alonzo, father OF Bishop Henry
| c. Potter, OF New York. was Bishop OF
| Pennsylvania for many years. Bishop Ho-
ratio Potter was graduated from Union
| College, Schenectady, in 1926, and was or
dained deacon in July OF the following
year. He was ordained a priest in Deem
Der, 1928. and first entered upon his c'eri-
cal duties as rector OF Trinity church, Saco,
| Me. He left that charge 10 become Pro-
lessor OF Mathematics and Natural Phi
losophy in Washington, now Trinity.
| COLLEGE in Hartford, Conn. But he
| resumed priestly labors IN 1888, when he
J became rector Of st. Peters church, then
1 of,ii i.l In A
| Here for nearly twenty-five years he miu-
! isteIed patiently, faithfully, and success.
| fully, until in September, 1854, he was
called to higher field Of labor. At that
| time he was chosen provisional bishop OF
| The diocese Of New York, 10 succeed Pro-
| yisiOnal-BishOp Jonathan Mayhem VAIN.
| wright, who had performed the duties OF
| the bshopric for nearly two years. The
bishop OF the diocese at that time, the Right
Rev. Benjamin 7. Onderdonk, had been
suspended from Office in 1S45 and the
work OF the great diocese, then including
half Of the State of New York, deyolyed
upon Bishop Potter.
| His eectionwas made at diocesan con-
yention held on September 30, 1854. Eight
ballots were taken, he receiving % votes OF
the clergy and 70 from the laity, the num-
Der necessary to choice being 81 and a
respectively. lie was consecrated with i'm
! posing ceremonies at Trinity church. New
York, on November D. 1854, Bishop
| Brownell, OF Connecticut. officiating, and
being assisted by Bishop Hopkins, OF Yer.
mont; Doane, Of New Jersey; McCoskey,
! OF Michigan Nottingham, OF Maryland !;
Eastburn, OF Massachusetts, Alouzo Pot
ter, OF Pennsylvania Lee, Of Iowa; and
Fulford, OF Montreal. He had already re-
ceiyed the degree OF ID. d. from Trinity
College 1889, and two years after his con-
secratiOn received that Of LID. from
Hobart College. These were supplemented
| in 1860 by the degree of ID. G. L., con-
ierred by the University OF Oxford, Eng
land.
In 1861, upon the death Of Bishop on
derdonk, he succeeded to the full
bishopric.
When Bishop Potter was elevated to
his high Office the number Of clergymen
| economically resident in the diocese was 30i,
| and the number OF churches aud chanels
was 252. In 1868 there were set of from
| the diocese under his control the dioceses
| Of Albany and Long Island. Yet so con-
slant has been the growth OF the diocese
| that the report for the year just closed
shows that there were 331 elergymen I'M
der his charge. with 1876 parishes and mis-
sions, with 44.72S communicates, 39,I73
scholars, and 3,5l7 teachers In the Sunday
schools, and contributing S2,72l,964 for
MISSION and church purposes. With the
exception Of Bishop Green, OF Mississippi,
Bishop Potter was the senior In years
among the bishops Of the Episcopal
Church, though Bishops Green, Lee, Kip,
southgate, and williams all ante-date him
| in their elevation TO the office OF bishop.
Bishop Potter was twice married, his first
wife being Miss Tomlinson, Of Science
tady, whom he met while student at col
lege. His second wife was a Scotch lady, q
Miss Pollock, niece OF the poet Pollock,
who wrote The Course Of Time. He met
her while travelling m Scotland in 18i5,
| and became engaged TO her there. When
| The time set for the marriage came around
be found It impossible to leave his parish
| In Albany. and so she came TO this country.
| lie met her a. the wharf In this city and